27 Apr: The Cost of Foolish Choices
A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street. Ecclesiastes 10:2–3
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1–14
It is one thing to make a mistake, but it is quite another to accidentally pay for the privilege of committing a crime. Take, for example, the man in Wollongong, Australia. He walked into a shop, laid down a $20 bill for change, and then pulled a gun to demand the contents of the register. He made his getaway, leaving his own money behind, only to realize later that the drawer he robbed held a grand total of fifteen dollars. He literally paid five dollars to rob a store.
It’s a strange story, but it makes a clear point: we all make foolish choices at times. Maybe not as obvious as that, but still real—even when our intentions aren’t bad. What matters most is what we do next. If we ignore those moments, they can quietly turn into patterns, shaping who we become. As Ecclesiastes 10:3 puts it, fools “lack sense.”
Admitting our mistakes isn’t easy. It often means facing uncomfortable truths—recognizing a flaw in our character or acknowledging that we acted too quickly. That kind of honesty takes effort, but avoiding it only keeps us stuck.
The good news is that God doesn’t waste those moments. He uses them to teach and refine us. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that discipline isn’t enjoyable in the moment, but over time, it produces lasting growth. When we’re willing to learn, even our missteps can shape us into who God is calling us to be.
By: Jeffrey Wald
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Reflect & Pray
What’s a recent foolish choice you’ve made? What do you think God wants you to learn from it?
Thank You, Father, for using my foolishness to train me. May I accept Your discipline graciously as You continue to work in me.